Applications Now Open for OUTAthlete Fitness Scholarships

It can be hard for many LGBTQ+ young adults to find a place where they feel comfortable participating in fitness, and The OUT Foundation is partnering with local CrossFit gyms across the country to change that.“We are dedicated to nurturing, empowering, and celebrating LGBTQ+ bodies and minds to guarantee that our community thrives,” said Will Lanier, Executive Director of The OUT Foundation.  “In service of that mission, we launched the OUTAthlete Scholarship program to award year-long gym memberships to deserving LGBTQ+ applicants.”Enrollment is open now, and interested applicants are encouraged to apply at iamout.org/outathlete before the April 30, 2019 deadline.  Recipients will be chosen and notified in May, and The OUT Foundation will work with them to find a local, inclusive CrossFit affiliate where they can begin their fitness journey in June/July. The OUT Foundation will also work closely with scholarship recipients to provide them with goal coaching, apparel, and nutritional support.“With the encouragement of my friends, I applied and was chosen as a recipient of an OUTAthlete scholarship this year and I’m now CrossFitting 3-4 times a week,” said OUTAthlete scholarship recipient Chloe Ramjohn of CrossFit Rise in Schaumburg, Illinois.OUTAthlete Scholarships are funded, in part, by OUTWODs; events hosted by CrossFit affiliates worldwide to create a more inclusive environment and show support of the LGBTQ+ community. At an OUTWOD, LGBTQ+ athletes and allies join together to participate in a fun workout, create awareness for community issues in sport and fitness, and raise funds for The OUT Foundation and local LGBTQ+ charities worldwide. The OUT Foundation’s mission is to remove the barriers that block LGBTQ+ individuals’ access and participation in health, wellness, and fitness to ensure their success. Learn more at www.iamout.org.